Govt targets 3.5% farm growth with kharif outreach to 13 million farmers
New Delhi: The Centre has launched a massive outreach campaign aimed at equipping farmers with information, tools, and technology ahead of the kharif sowing season, targeting over 3.5% growth in agricultural production in 2025-26.
Agriculture and farmers welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a countrywide initiative running from 29 May to 12 June across all states and union territories.
The campaign aims to directly engage more than 13 million farmers, raising awareness of region-specific kharif crops, improved agronomic practices, and modern techniques in animal husbandry, poultry, and fisheries to boost income diversification. The drive will also educate farmers about central schemes offering financial assistance, insurance, subsidies, and support services, according to the minister.
Kharif crops, which account for around 60% of India's total crop production, include paddy, maize, soybean, tur, and cotton - all heavily reliant on monsoon rainfall.
Banking on the Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast of an 'above normal' monsoon at 105% of the long period average, the government has set a record food grain production target of 354.64 million tonnes (MT) for 2025-26, up 3.8% from 341.55 MT in 2024-25.
Paddy output is projected to rise to 147.35 MT from 136.30 MT, while wheat is estimated at 117.40 MT, up from 115 MT. Maize output is expected to increase to 42.68 MT from 40 MT.
However, the target for pulses has been revised lower to 26.47 MT for 2025-26 from 29.90 MT last year, after actual production fell to 23.02 MT. The target for oilseeds remains nearly unchanged at 44.75 MT.
Chouhan expressed confidence that the momentum from record production in 2024-25 would continue. 'Having achieved record production last year, we are confident of sustaining over 3.5% growth in agricultural output, well above the global average of 1-1.5%,' he said.
Nearly half of India's farmland is rain-fed, making a strong monsoon crucial for crop success. Even irrigated lands depend on reservoir levels, which are replenished during the rainy season.
The 2024 monsoon season was the best in four years, with overall rainfall during the period 8% above normal, as per IMD data.
As part of efforts to optimize kharif output, special emphasis will be placed on training farmers to interpret Soil Health Cards for better crop and fertilizer decisions.
Additionally, the government plans to introduce handheld digital tools for on-the-spot soil testing, allowing farmers to assess properties like texture, organic matter, pH, and nutrient levels in seconds, Mint had reported earlier.
This will enable precision farming and quick decision-making, said M.L. Jat, secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education.
The campaign will also document grassroots innovations and gather feedback to inform policy and research. All 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras will lead the drive, coordinating with 113 ICAR institutes, agricultural universities, and state departments. Each district will deploy three teams comprising scientists, officials, and progressive farmers to visit three gram panchayats per day, interacting with 500-600 farmers daily.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
44 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Manoj Jha questions Centre's intentions for caste census
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha on Monday (June 9, 2025) raised serious concerns over the Centre's intentions for the caste census. Mr. Jha said the policies of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were not only anti-reservation, but also conspiring to mislead the Backward Classes (BC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC). He alleged that the government was pretending in the name of a caste census, and there was a lack of transparency in the entire process. 'After the painful incident of Pahalgam, suddenly the Prime Minister realised that it is necessary to conduct a caste census as per the demand of most of the people, so he announced it in a hurry. But the move, character and face of the BJP, which has always been anti-Bahujan and against reservation, is now visible,' Mr. Jha said while addressing the press at the party office in Patna. 'Our national president Lalu Prasad ji has been warning that those who follow Bunch of Thoughts politics on the ideas of Guru Golwalkar can never be serious about reservation, which is now clearly visible,' he added. Mr. Jha asserted that the Centre wanted to create confusion in the name of the caste census and questioned the reason behind the government announcing that population figures for OBCs would not be released. He added that such figures were necessary as per Article 340 of the Constitution, he added. 'When the castes are counted and the figures are not revealed, then which policy will be implemented towards reservation and increasing the reservation in the private sector? NITI Aayog and other agencies can work on planning, social, economic upliftment and increasing reservation on the basis of data only when the data comes from the government level,' Mr. Jha said. Accompanied by the party's chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav and national vice-president of the party Uday Narayan Choudhary at the press briefing, Mr. Jha pointed said that besides party leader Tejashwi Yadav, leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were also in favour of the figures being published. Mr. Choudhary, on the other hand, said that the caste census was a hoax and nothing had been disclosed in this regard. He explained that the caste survey was conducted in Bihar under pressure from Mr. Yadav. Still, the 65% reservation benefit was not being given because the intention of the BJP and the Nitish Kumar government was not right, he charged. Tejashwi's demands Earlier in the day, in a post on X, Mr. Yadav addressed Chief Miniser Kumar about responding to his letter dated June 5 on increasing the reservation to 85% for all deprived classes in Bihar. 'Nitish ji you did not respond to my letter, is it because you have no answer or your officials do not show you the letters? The parties that beat the drum of social justice, on whose strength the Modi government is running, why are they failing to include the 65% reservation limit increased by our government in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution?' Mr. Yadav asked. 'The Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Upendra Kushwaha should speak out on the issue of reservation against this injustice faced by Dalit, Adivasi, backward, and extremely backward classes. Politics is not just about clinging to power,' he added. Mr. Yadav further said, 'If all these people cannot even get this small demand fulfilled by the Prime Minister, then their politics and staying in such an alliance is shameful. If Nitish Ji is unable to speak on this issue in front of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, then he should call a special one-day session of the Assembly, and then see how we get it implemented.'
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Agri production increased by 40 per cent in last 10 years": Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrates 11 years of Modi Govt
Rangareddy (Telangana) [India], June 9 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday marked a significant milestone - 11 years of the Modi government - by highlighting the administration's achievements in the agricultural sector. Speaking in Rangareddy, Telangana, Chouhan emphasised the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and policies on agriculture. 'Today is a historic day,' the Union minister said, adding, 'Our government has completed one year of its third term. This year was full of accomplishments.' Chouhan pointed out that the agricultural growth rate stood at 5.4% in Q4, reflecting the government's focus on the sector. He credited Modi's leadership for the increase in foodgrain production, stating that grain storages are full and agricultural production has risen by 40% over the last decade. 'From the point of view of agriculture, it is a result of PM Narendra Modi's vision, policies, and programs. In Q4, the agriculture growth rate was 5.4 per cent... I want to congratulate PM Narendra Modi, our grain storages are full. We have set new records in the production of foodgrains. In the last 10 years, we have increased our agricultural production by 40 per cent...,' the minister remarked. Chouhan also highlighted the government's efforts to promote millets, which are considered superfoods. He mentioned the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Shri Ann Global Centre of Excellence, aimed at furthering millet production and consumption. While speaking with the media personnel, Chouhan said, 'We have laid the foundation stone of Shri Ann Global Centre of Excellence. We all know the importance of millets, which are superfoods... PM Narendra Modi took an initiative to promote the farming and consumption of millets in the world...' Earlier on Sunday, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the One Nation One Election campaign in Bengaluru, Karnataka, emphasising the need for simultaneous elections in argued that the current system of frequent elections leads to a significant waste of resources and energy, highlighting that the constant election cycle diverts a major part of the nation's energy and resources, which could be better utilised for long-term development goals. He stressed that holding Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections together would enable policymakers to focus on policy-driven decisions rather than being preoccupied with election preparations. The One Nation One Election campaign aims to raise awareness and build consensus on simultaneous elections nationwide. The campaign's proponents argue that simultaneous elections would reduce the strain on the electoral machinery, minimise disruptions to governance, and promote more focused and sustained policy implementation. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Odisha CM asks police to take action against Bangladeshi infiltrators
Kendrapada , Asserting that the Odisha government was committed to deporting Bangladesh nationals staying illegally in the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday asked the police and the district administration of Kendrapara to take strict action against such persons as they may pose a threat to national security. He said deportations would be made as per the law of the land. "The local police need to work in coordination with central agencies to tackle the tricky the issue of illegal immigration," Majhi said. While reviewing the implementation of government programmes in the district, he directed the police to identify the unlawful settlers with the help of the administration and initiate steps for their deportation. "All the infiltrators whether from Bangladesh or any other country will be dealt with sternly," he said, adding that the state government is following a zero-tolerance policy towards foreigners settling down without valid documents as they are always a threat to India's security. Majhi, who also holds the Home portfolio, had informed the assembly in March that 3,738 Bangladeshi infiltrators have been identified in the state. Kendrapara tops the list with 1,649 people, followed by 1,112 in Jagatsinghpur, 655 in Malkangiri, 199 in Bhadrak, 106 in Nabarangpur and 17 in Bhubaneswar. As many as 1,711 Bangladeshis from coastal Odisha were served 'Quit India' notice in 2005 in accordance with provisions of the Foreigners Act. However, the exercise to deport them was put on hold by the Centre amid allegations of wrongful identification of the suspected foreign nationals, an official said. However, 21 Bangladeshi nationals were deported to their country under Foreigners Act prior to 2005, the official said. Kendrapara's development issues were discussed as the CM took stock of administrative performance, infrastructure growth, and social welfare initiatives. "Kendrapada will become a launch pad for the state government's second-year development agenda," Majhi said, while addressing officials and public representatives. The review meeting was attended by MLAs from the district and discussions were held on strengthening water resource infrastructure, accelerating industrial growth, and expanding the district's renowned mangrove cover. Majhi asked the officials to focus on the eco-tourism potential of Kendrapara and put efforts to attract more tourists to Bhitarkanika National Park and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary while preserving ecological integrity. Also, the MLAs and other people's representatives drew the attention of the chief minister to the long-standing demand for setting up a medical college in Kendrapada and implementing the 'parikrama' project around the Baladevjew Temple. Majhi appreciated the district's performance in the creation of Lakhpati Didis and the success of Subhadra Yojana. He also lauded the district's performance in grievance redressal, implementation of mid-day meal scheme, and distribution of allowances. He asked the administration to prepare a comprehensive roadmap within a month to develop Kendrapada into a model district, with a special focus on industrial growth, tourism, renewable energy, and uninterrupted drinking water and healthcare access. Earlier, Majhi participated in a Tiranga Yatra from the Mausi Maa Temple to the historic Shri Baladev Jew Temple. He also flagged off two outreach initiatives Krishi Rath and Revenue Rath.
